911 dispatcher who scolded drowning woman, told her to 'shut up' moments before she died cleared of wrongdoing
FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS: A former Arkansas 911 dispatcher who allegedly mishandled a distress call from a drowning woman and told her to "shut up" just moments before she died has now been cleared of any wrongdoing.
According to the Fort Smith Police Department, an internal investigation found that while operator Donna Reneau had violated policy by being rude in an August call with Debbie Stevens shortly before she drowned, she didn't do anything to warrant her termination, stated an ABC News report.
"No evidence of criminal negligence or activities on former Operator Reneau’s part. In fact, the evidence shows that while Operator Reneau spoke rudely to Mrs. Stevens during the call, she actually bumped the call up in the order of importance shortly after receiving it," the department stated in a release on Friday, December 20.
Earlier this year, Stevens' demise grabbed national attention after the department released audio footage of the tragic 911 call. Reneau appeared unconcerned despite Stevens having only minutes to live, scolding the 47-year-old victim for driving into deep waters.
At around 4.30 am on the morning of August 24, Fort Smith police got a call from Stevens after her SUV was swept away in a flood while she was delivering newspapers for the Southwest Times Record.
Her vehicle became stuck among trees as the waters continued to rise, authorities said. "I have an emergency — a severe emergency," Stevens said during the call. "I can't get out, and I'm scared to death, ma'am. Can you please help me?".
"I’m going to die," she added, crying. "You’re not going to die,” Reneau said in response. "I don’t know why you're freaking out… You freaking out is doing nothing but losing your oxygen in there. So, calm down."
The dispatcher assured Stevens later on during the call that she is not going to die. "I don't know why you are freaking out. It's OK. I know the water level is high," the operator said.
"I'm scared!" Stevens said. "I understand that but you freaking out, doing nothing but losing oxygen up in there," Reneau said. "So calm down."
The victim could then be heard crying on the phone. "I'm scared. I've never had anything happen to me like this before," she said. "Well, this will teach you next time, don't drive in the water," the operator responded.
"I couldn't see it, ma'am. I'm sorry I wouldn't have," Steven explained. "I don't see how you didn't see it. You had to go right over it so," the operator said.
Stevens became frantic and one point while talking to the dispatcher. "These people are all standing out here watching me," Stevens said. "Miss Debbie, you're going to have to shut up. OK. I need you to listen," the dispatcher asserted.
While the operator's response would spark major outrage, later on, authorities insisted that "sincere efforts were being made" to save Stevens' life during the call. Reneau had already submitted her resignation and was on her last shift when she took Stevens' distress call.